National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR) was founded in 1973 in Chicago, Illinois. Its grew out of the struggle to free Angela Davis from a "racist frame-up" on murder charges surrounding the aborted attempt by Jonathan Jackson to free his brother, George Jackson and the Soledad Brothers, from jail, in 1970.[1]

New leadership

A memorial was held, Nov. 11 2017, where friends, family, and comrades of Josephine Wyatt gathered to remember her 95 years of life and struggle.

Among the speeches about her life was a video from Angela Davis. Josephine had been tireless in the campaign to free Angela Davis and all political prisoners in the early 1970s. She was at the founding convention of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, which grew out of the struggle for Davis’ freedom in 1973. Josephine continued until her death to be a leader in the Chicago chapter, which became the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression when the national organization ended.

Josephine Wyatt was born in Georgia, and moved to Chicago in the 1940s, where she and her husband joined the Communist Party USA. A number of the speakers, including her son, spoke about the CP and her dedication to it. One of those speakers was Mark Durham, whose 98-year-old mother, Clarice Durham, also spoke about Josephine, her friend of many years. Clarice continues on the leadership body of the Chicago Alliance.

Josephine was so dedicated to the struggle for Black freedom that when the CP leadership under Gus Hall greatly de-emphasized the Black National Question in the late 1980s, she left the party and carried on the work in the Chicago Alliance. Years later, she recruited Frank Chapman to become active again in Chicago when he left the CP.

The emotional highpoint of the evening was an unexpected speak out from the new activists leading the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. Called upon to share their thoughts about one of the founding revolutionary mothers of the movement, the result was spontaneous reflections and self-assessments by the new generation of leadership about the meaning of their work with the Alliance.

Each of them spoke of their convictions; each shared with the room the passion they have for this struggle, and for an end to the system of oppression. The measure of the success of the memorial was expressed in the depths of their feelings and thoughtful remarks.

Nataki Rhodes, an Alliance co-chair talked about her activist history, and the experience of police brutality aimed at her family, and how she got involved in the Alliance and became a leader. She said she “didn’t realize that she was walking in the footsteps of giants” until she learned of the legacy of strong, Black women like Josephine Wyatt, Charlene Mitchell, and Angela Davis that had gone before her.

Jeff Baker, also an Alliance co-chair spoke out. With his son present in the room, having himself become an active member of the Alliance in recent months, Jeff compared leading the Alliance with the sense of accomplishment and pride he feels about his relationship with his son. He said he considers himself to be part of the living legacy of Josephine Wyatt.

Brian Ragsdale, the Alliance treasurer, told those assembled, that having been an academic, battling against institutional racism, he decided to put his beliefs and his desire to fight for Black people into practice. Joining the Alliance was finding the purpose that he was seeking, and a fulfillment that he didn’t think was possible.

Jazmine Salas, co-chair of the Stop Police Crimes organizing committee said her dedication to the work of the Alliance comes from knowing that her Puerto Rican people suffer at the hands of the police just like the Black community. Organizing the movement against police crimes is in the interests of both peoples.

Finally, Jeffrey Baker, son of Jeff Baker, was moved to read excerpts from the poem, What Will Your Legacy Be? by Margaret Burroughs, a lifelong comrade of Josephine. The poem was a favorite of Jose-phine’s, and over the decades, she often posed the question to her descendants.[3]

Sponsors of the Founding Conference of the NAARPR, May 11-13, 1973

The following is a list of "sponsors" of "A Call" for a founding conference of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression from the large pamphlet sent out about it.[4]

6th National Conference May 29-31, 1981, Birmingham, Alabama

The CPUSA front, the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR) scheduled its "6th National Conference" for May 29-31, 1981, to be held at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. A large fold-out brochure was printed to inform people of the event. It was broken up into several informational sections which are reproduced en toto below.

The address page for mailing and return mail had the NAARPR national office address of 27 Union Square West, Room 306, New York, New York 10003, (212) 243-8555, and the union printing bug for this brochure was the CPUSA's print shop Bug #209, Prompt Press.

"We Call this Sixth National Conference of our National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression at a time of great urgency in our national life. On May 29-31, 1981, we will convene in Birmingham to chart our future in the light of our deep concern for the democratic rights and aspirations of our people. Therefore, we see more than an organizational gathering in this Conference. Although organizing and making plans for future struggles is the essential function of our Conferences, we will reach out to thousands who share our concerns. Our Conference must pull together the many sisters and brothers who make up the many strands of the peoples movement."

A Time of Outrage"

"Those who share our concern also share our outrage over the monstrous, racist violence that stalks the land. Those who share our concern understand that we must stop by the force of people who are organized, the lawless carnage of KKK-Nazi violence. We must include here the fact that cowardly murder of Black children in Atlanta, whoever the killer(s), is being carried out at a time of official tolerance for avowed racist terrorists. Racist and anti-Semitic terror must be outlawed and stopped."

"But our sense of urgency also arises from the fact that since our last Conference, two years ago, we have witnessed an ever-rising crescendo of attacks against Black, Latin, Asian and Native American peoples. We know these attacks on peoples of color and working people are instigated by a revived atmosphere of racism and cold war hysteria. Our Conference must bring together all those who can be united in action to defend and extend our democratic rights."

"A Time of Victory"

"We have organized, participated in and will celebrate at this Conference two major victories won this past year: the release and vindication of our national co-chairperson Rev. Ben Chavis and the Wilmington Ten and George Merritt, member of our national board. While we celebrate these victories we are keenly aware of the continued attempts to stifle dissent, to silence every activist in the movements for equality, peace, freedom and solidarity with other peoples. Such dangers are represented by our government's continued prosecution of courage peace activist David Truong. These threats are also confronted daily by our numerous organizational efforts: the fight for Johnny Imani Harris' release from death row, only miles from Birmingham; the struggle to free Native American activist Leonard Peltier; stopping the mass murder vis-a-vis the death penalty planned for the Pontiac brothers; abolishing the behavior control unit and the brutal persecution of prisoners at Marion, Illinois; and at a thousand other hell-holes from Santa Fe to Leavenworth to MacAlister, Soledad and Parchman. Our Conference will address this continuing barbarism and seek to redress it."

"... Of Danger"

"But there are newly instigated threats to our movements - their perpetrators being the new right wing President and Congress in collusion with the money barons from Wall Street to Dallas. We are now witnessing a wave of attempts to knock the already weak supports from under the poor and oppressed minorities. The call to repeal the Voting Rights Act; the refusal to propose the refunding of the Legal Services Corporation; the call for a federal death penalty; and, the elimination of minimum wage laws are but a few examples of these newly clad governmental threats. These threats join with the economic crises facing us such as plant closings, runaway shops, simultaneous double-digit unemployment and double-digit inflation, and inhumane cutbacks in human and social services. These are times of a mean-spirited refusal to meet the basic needs of the masses of people."

"8 Years of Unity, Organization, Struggle"

"But our Alliance is no stranger to government and corporate conspiracy to undermine and destroy the efforts to expand democratic rights. Born in 1973, ours was the age of Watergate and governmental conspiracies against anti-war protestors and Black liberation movement activists and increasing attacks on the rights of labor to organize. We began our struggle in times such as these. We are, therefore, well-equipped with organizational experience to rise to the challenge of the 80's; to protect the people's right to organize for democratic rights."

"And Birmingham, the City of our Conference, was chosen for its similar history of successful struggle. Through the heroism of its common people, its workers and its Black liberation movement, Birmingham overcame police-dogs, cattle prods and the murder of children by cowardly bombs placed in centers of worship, to bring us to the present moment - threatened still by Klan night-riders who have set up military camps - where a representative of the Black community could be elected mayor. What great cause to celebrate, and what more urgent time to rally!"

"This is an important city, organization and time. Our meeting in Birminham on May 29-31, 1981 is by the necessity of our times, a meeting which must inspire and propel our efforts to organize against racist and political repression, to meet the demands of the people's struggle. In Birmingham, we must renew our commitment to protect the people's right to organize. In Birmingham, we must bring together sisters and brothers from across this country, who share our concern with the '80's, who fear the planned destruction of the trade union movement, of the Afro-American movement, of the Chicano movement, of the Puerto Rican movement, of the Native American Indian movement, of the Asia-American movement."

"We invite you to join us - we urge your participation in planning the defense of organized struggle in the '80's. Add your strength to ours. Freedom is a constant struggle."

"We Can Fight Back & Win!"

Flip-side of brochure, 3 sections as follows:

"WORKSHOPS"

"Political Prisoners"

"How to build mass movements around priority cases, to win freedom for political prisoners and other victims of racist and class injustice. Priority cases include David Truong, Imani Johnny Harris, Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Attys. Lennox Hinds and Jerry Paul (who face disbarment in New Jersey & North Carolina].

"Repressive Legislation"

"The fight against the death penalty, abuses of power by the FBI, CIA and local police intelligence agencies."

"Defense of the Rights of Labor"

"The right to organize, strike and bargain collectively; amnesty for undocumented workers; repeal of state and federal anti-labor laws; defeat of proposed "right-to-work" legislation."

"Ku Klux Klan, Nazi & Other Hate Groups"

"Organize massive struggles to defeat and outlaw the Klan, Nazis and other hate groups."

"Each of the following categories will be entitled to voting delegates to the conference:

1. NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (any organization with nationwide membership or affiliates) are entitled to 6 delegates.

2. REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (any organization with regional membership or affiliates in two or more states) are entitled to 3 delegates.

3. LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS (any organization located in a single city or locality except Alliance branches) are entitled to 2 delegates.

4. EACH BRANCH of the National Alliance (a branch is composed of at least 10 members in one state or city that has been organized soley for the aims and purposes of NAARPR) is entitled to six delegates plus one delegate for every 20 members per branch. No branch shall have more than 20 voting delegates. All observers are welcome and will have voice but not vote.

"Advance registration is encouraged. Please expect your receipt in the mail (if registered prior to May 10). Please bring your receipt to the conference. Registration fee for delegates and observers is $7.50. Registration fee waived only for prisoners on furlough. Registration fee plus new membership in the NAARPR is $10.00."

The Eddie Carthan Support Project in Los Angeles, November 6, 1982

A rally supporting jailed former Tchula, Mississippi mayor Eddie Carthan was scheduled for November 6, 1982 at the 1st A.M.E. Church, 2270 S. Harvard, Los Angeles, sponsored by the CPUSA front, the National Alliance Against Racist and Political RepressionNAARPRLos Angeles branch. Its key speakers were, according to a flier distributed at UCLA in October, 1982, the following:

Billed as a "Rally" with the speakers on "The Campaign to Free Mayor Carthan", the leaflet said the following about the case:

"Eddie Carthan, young, black, liberal Mayor of Tchula, Mississippi, faces the death penalty on a frame-up murder charge. At the age of 12, Carthan went to jail for marching with Martin Luther King. As mayor, he was convicted of "interfering" with a bogus chief of police whom he had not appointed; then of fraud because two men convicted of making phoney (sic) sales to Tchula claimed Carthan gave them permission to forge his name; and now he goes on trial on a marcher charge to which two men have already pleaded guilty. As a potential four time loser, Mayor Carthan faces a mandatory death penalty!.

He was acquired of the charge in 1982. The whole issue involved racial politics and power grabs in the city, which left a lot of bad blood been all parties concerned.

Subsections of the flier included:

Tchula: The Reality

Tchula: The Promise

The Reaction

The Tchula Seven

The Assault Continues

The Attack Intensifies

The Implications

Fighting Back

How You Can Help

The national NAARPR leadership and Endorses for November, 1982 was also included on page 3 of the flier, as follows:
-Executive Committee-